2021 Rutaca Boeing 737-230 aborted takeoff at Maiquetía (YV380T)

Incident overview and aircraft details On 11 June 2021 at 17:20 UTC, Rutaca flight YV380T, a Boeing 737-230 with serial number 22127, began a takeoff roll from Maiquetía's Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) toward Tocumen International Airport (MPTO) in Panama. The aircraft carried 92 people: 9 crew members and 83 passengers. It was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 turbofan engines and had 38,400 pounds of fuel, providing an endurance of 4 hours and 50 minutes. ## Takeoff abort and outcome During the takeoff roll, the captain's airspeed indicator malfunctioned. The crew aborted the takeoff in accordance with the Quick Reference Handbook and returned to the apron under its own power. All occupants were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained minor damage. ## Maintenance history and investigation findings On 10 June 2021, a pitot tube overheat light for the captain's side was reported in flight. The burned pitot tube was replaced the same day, but the associated lines were not blown out because that practice was not described in the maintenance manual. On 11 June 2021, after the previous day's maintenance, the captain's airspeed indicator failed and was replaced. The retained part was a Mach Air Speed Indicator, part number 2083-11-1, serial number 3129, manufactured by GE Aviation Systems. ## Probable cause and preventive measures The preliminary investigation identified the probable cause as a material factor: malfunction of the airspeed indicator. A contributing factor was the failure to properly clean the lines when replacing the pitot tube the day before, which may have allowed debris to obstruct the lines and reach the indicator. The investigation also noted that weather conditions were favorable and not contributory. ## Regulatory notifications The incident was reported to the ICAO ADREP system, and the United States, as the state of design and manufacture, was notified. The NTSB and ICAO had not responded as of the report date.